Responsible Gaming at Afribet
Gambling should stay entertainment, never a source of income or a way to solve financial pressure. If it stops feeling that way, free and confidential help is available right now through South Africa's National Responsible Gambling Programme, alongside tools you can use directly on your Afribet account.
Getting help
A free, multilingual line open every hour of every day
The National Responsible Gambling Programme (NRGP) runs South Africa's dedicated problem gambling helpline on 0800 006 008, toll-free from any landline or mobile, staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including public holidays. Counsellors work across all 11 official South African languages, so language is never a barrier to reaching out.
If a counsellor determines that outpatient treatment is needed, the NRGP covers those medical costs itself rather than passing the bill to the person seeking help, and support extends to family members and loved ones affected by someone else's gambling, not only the person gambling directly.
- Helpline0800 006 008, free, 24/7
- WhatsApp / SMSHELP to 076 675 0710
- Languages supportedAll 11 official SA languages
- Treatment costCovered by NRGP, not the patient
Know the signs
Recognising when gambling has stopped being entertainment
Warning signs worth taking seriously include gambling with money meant for rent, food, or bills, chasing losses with bigger stakes to try to win back what's gone, lying to family or friends about how much time or money is spent gambling, and feeling restless, anxious, or irritable when unable to play.
Borrowing money specifically to gamble, neglecting work or relationships in favour of betting, and feeling unable to stop even after deciding to are further indicators that it may be time to reach out for support rather than trying to manage it alone.
None of these signs mean something is permanently wrong; they mean it's a good moment to call the helpline, talk to someone you trust, or use one of the limit-setting tools described below before the situation gets harder to manage.
Removing yourself from play
Two different paths to self-exclusion
Self-exclusion works differently depending on who is requesting it. If you want to exclude yourself, the fastest route is contacting the NRGP directly on 0800 006 008, where counsellors can register you on the national self-exclusion programme at no cost, alongside offering ongoing counselling support through the same process.
If a family member wants to request exclusion on someone else's behalf, that request generally goes through the relevant provincial gambling board instead — for example the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board or the Gauteng Gambling Board — and requires a written application, the excluded person's South African ID number, and a copy of the requester's own ID.
Fastest route, free counselling included
Via NRGP Directly
- ✓ Call 0800 006 008 to begin
- ✓ No cost to register
- ✓ Ongoing counselling support included
- ✓ Available 24/7 in 11 languages
For a family member's exclusion
Via Provincial Board
- ✓ Contact WCGRB, GGB, or relevant provincial board
- ✓ Written application required
- ✓ Both parties' ID documents needed
- ✓ Processing time varies by province
On your account
Tools available directly through Afribet
Beyond the national programme, Afribet's support team can apply account-level controls on request, including deposit limits that cap how much can be added to your account within a set period, and time-out periods that temporarily lock account access for a duration you choose, from a few days up to several months.
A full self-exclusion request through Afribet's own support channel closes account access entirely rather than just limiting deposits, and is a separate process from the NRGP's national self-exclusion register, though using both together gives broader coverage than relying on either alone.
These tools work best when set before a session starts, since a deposit limit or time-out configured in the moment of wanting to keep playing is far less effective than one already in place beforehand.